ATSUM asks remaining tribal MLAs to resign over passage of bills

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

IMPHAL, September 7: A high level meeting of the Coordinating Committee, All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) convened today has adopted certain resolutions regarding the three infamous bills namely the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015; Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill 2015 and Manipur Shops and Establishments (2nd Amendment 2015) passed on August 31 during the special session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

According to a statement of Coordinating Committee, ATSUM said the meeting after an in-depth deliberation on the ongoing tribal protest against the bills unanimously resolved that the remaining tribal MLAs should also tender their resignation immediately on moral ground as demanded by the tribal people.

It demanded immediate restoration of the internet connectivity and sms facilities and questioned why such facilities were not interrupted during the recent two months agitations in the valley.

"Such selective response of the Government towards the tribal in violation of the freedom of expression is seen as a deliberate attempt to disintegrate the tribal as we are uniting in one voice against the anti tribal bills,’’ it alleged.

The statement pointed out that the State has become like a dictatorial regime under which the rights of the tribal people are systematically abrogated in various aspects including our land ownership rights besides denying us our rightful entitlements as citizens.

Appreciating the initiatives and the efforts of the Joint Action Committee, Churachanpur in dealing with such volatile current political situation and expresses solidarity for future actions, the Coordinating Committee, ATSUM in the statement appealed for safe passage for people of the State, who are travelling on trains across the State of Bihar.

It also appealed to all sections of the people to maintain communal harmony in the State too.